St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The year is coming to a close, but the Cardinals still don’t have a closer. Some of you have some thoughts on that matter .
Q: Happy Holidays, Commish. I was wondering where the Cardinals are on the starting pitcher and closer front. Is Fuentes now out of reach? Will it be by committee? If not one of those options, than who will be the closer? Also, are than any free agent bargains for the starting rotation out there? Thanks very much.
Dan
A: Thanks, Dan. So far, the closers are Perez and Motte although I feel certain one veteran ultimately will be brought in. Haven’t heard much talk about Isringhausen lately, but I wouldn’t eliminate his getting at least an invite to camp if he can’t hammer out something else. I think there will be plenty of starters out there after the first of the year and even closer to spring training. There seems to be a logjam at the Derek Lowe level (the Cardinals are not in this one) and on down and there are pitchers like Ben Sheets, Jon Garland, Randy Wolf, Oliver Perez, Braden Looper, etc. who still are out there. But until Lowe signs or one of the others, nobody quite knows the market and what to offer.
***
Q: Commish, with the Fuentes deal apparently dead in the water, there seems to be some increasing mention of Trevor Hoffman as a possibility for a one-year deal. Why on earth would we want to do that? He’s slipped a lot in the last couple of years, I’d much rather have Perez and/or Motte in there and take my chances, rather than have Hoffman try to soft- toss his way to a save. I envision the same Mylanta resistant heartburn that Izzy’s appearances gave me. Tell me we’re not going to waste our money on a has been. One other question, on the Miles front, any chance he’s back, or do you think after two years of the same treatment, he says “see ya,” no matter what we might offer. Thanks and happy holidays.
Monty
A: Monty, thanks. The club does not appear to be high on Hoffman. As for Miles, the Cardinals would like to sign him to a one-year deal closer to the $1.4 million he last season, rather than giving him a multiple-year deal or letting him possibly go to arbitration. Don’t eliminate Walt Jocketty in Cincinnati. Jocketty brought Miles to the Cardinals in the first place.
***
Q: Thanks, Commish, for having such a reasoned view. Yes, Duncan could very well be a 40 HR per year guy when healthy. Yes, Duncan may look silly trying to judge a fly ball from time to time. These descriptions could be said about Adam Dunn and Manny Ramirez as well. At this point, I don’t see much return for trading him now. It would almost be giving him away. If he hits 280 with 30+ HRs this year, I see much more returning in a trade next year. This decision is easy, Mo. What do you think his trade value would be now versus if he had just completed a 280 average with 30+ HR year?
Bill
A: Much higher, Bill. But it also should be higher next spring when other teams see Duncan play after he missed considerable time in 2008 because of a disc problem in his neck which required surgery.
***
Q: I think second base is one of the most underrated positions. Second base defense is invaluable because most first basemen are lumbering power hitters with limited defensive range. Albert is the exception to the rule, so we tend to undervalue second base defense. Just look at how many suggest moving Skip. But the idea of moving some of our draftees to second has merit. Most good hitters tend to gravitate to the outfield in high school, but some surely posses the attributes to play second. Commish, is this done very often? Thanks.
Roger
A: I think you see more players moved from position to position these days because of the tendency of big-league clubs to carry 11 or even 12 pitchers. That leaves only five or six bench players and one-position bench players are rare, especially in the National League.That being said, second base is a position that not just anybody could just be switched to. Kelly Johnson of Atlanta was a rare switch from outfield to second base but most players shifted to second have come from shortstop.
***
Q: Commish, Merry Christmas. The Florida Marlins have a SS prospect blocked behind Ramirez at AAA that they want to trade because he is out of options and can’t be sent back to AAA without going through wavers. His name is Robert Andino. I think he would a very good pickup for the Cardinals at 2nd or SS. After all, we lose both Kennedy and Greene to free agency after the 2009 season. What do you think??
Thank you.
Bryan
A: Merry Christmas, Bryan, and the same to all of you. Robert Andino, while a nice glove man, batted only .206 in 63 at-bats for the Marlins last season, so I’m thinking the Cardinals are looking for a bit more sock.
